I will be in England with my sister and 18 year old daughter in mid June. We have 3 days to stay in Wales or Scotland,(not sure which)and 5 in England. We will be using the Britrail pass and are based in London. Any ideas on lodging and sites?
Posted by
Tyler, TX, USA
162 posts
My wife and I spent a week in Wales back in 2001 and loved it. It depends on the kinds of things you enjoy doing, I think. Wales has quaint little villages worth exploring and castles and abby ruins. We live a pretty sedentary lifestyle so we were not looking for nightlife but I bet you could find that in Cardiff which is a large city. Scotland has Edinburgh and the lochs to explore too so you need to decide what you want to do in those 3 days and then see which area would suit you. Hiking in Snowdonia Park in Wales would be great if you hike.
Posted by
Charlotte, NC, USA
3428 posts
I could make a case fro either Cardiff Wales or Edinburgh. With only 3 days, you lose less to travel time doing Cardiff. It has nice shopping, a good harbor area and there's lots of great resturants. There are day trips out to slate or coal mines or castles, too. You could also stop at Bath on the way there or back as it is on the same rail line.
Posted by
New York City, NY, USA
5678 posts
And bear in mind that Toni is a diehard Scotland lover! As another Scotland fan I agree with her. I t could be that we are both saying this because we think Scotland needs more than three days. ; ) Pam
Posted by
Tampa, FL, USA
417 posts
Having been to both, they are great destinations. I probably agree with the others and pull for Wales. It is much closer to London and has some very nice sights.
Cardiff has a fun castle, walkable town center and great transportation connections to the rest of the Glamorgan area. If you are limited on time and can't make it to Snowdon and still want to do some hiking, you can easily get to the Brecon Beacons from Cardiff using public transport (rail from Cardiff to Merthyr Tydfal then connector bus to the park). It would be lovely to spend an evening in Brecon, a pretty village in the middle of the Brecon Beacons park. Plus, most things in Wales are in English and Welsh, so that is extra fun (even though EVERYBODY speaks English).
Edinburgh is really nice though, and if you have your heart set on more "blockbuster" sights, then Scotland, even if only for three days, may be worth it. Spend a full day in Edinburgh, take a day tour to the Highlands, and then another day exploring near Edinburgh. That way you are not staying in a new B&B every night and are not to worn out!
Mike